What is a Hohmann transfer?

A Hohmann transfer is a two-burn orbital maneuver that moves a spacecraft between two circular orbits using an elliptical transfer orbit. It is the most fuel-efficient two-impulse transfer when both orbits share the same central body and are coplanar.

What does delta-v mean?

Delta-v (Δv) is the change in velocity a thruster must deliver. It is a proxy for fuel consumption — the higher the delta-v, the more propellant is required. This calculator gives Δv1 (departure burn), Δv2 (arrival burn), and their sum.

What units does this calculator use?

Orbit radii are entered in kilometers (km), gravitational parameters in km³/s², velocities in km/s, and transfer time in hours and minutes. You can switch inputs to meters if you prefer.

Why are the radii measured from the center of the body?

Orbital mechanics uses radii from the center of mass of the central body. If you know an altitude above the surface, add the body's mean radius (e.g., 6,371 km for Earth) to get the orbital radius.

Does this account for inclination changes?

No. This calculator assumes coplanar circular orbits. Plane changes add significant delta-v that is not included here.

Can I use this for a Sun-centered (heliocentric) transfer?

Yes. Select "Sun" from the body list or enter µ = 1.327×10⁸ km³/s² and use orbit radii in km (e.g., 1 AU ≈ 149,597,870 km).

Hohmann Transfer Calculator

Name: Hohmann Transfer Calculator
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Enter two circular orbit radii and a central body to get the delta-v budget and transfer time for a Hohmann orbital transfer.

Orbit Parameters

Central Body

Initial Orbit Radius r₁ (km)

Target Orbit Radius r₂ (km)

Quick Presets

Enter orbit parameters and press Calculate.

Transfer Summary

Δv₁ (departure burn)

—

km/s

Δv₂ (arrival burn)

—

km/s

Total Δv

—

km/s

Orbit Details

Parameter	Initial Orbit	Transfer Ellipse	Target Orbit
Radius / SMA (km)	—	—	—
Velocity (km/s)	—	periapsis / apoapsis	—
Transfer velocities (km/s)	—		—
Orbit period	—	(full ellipse)	—

Transfer Time (coast)

—

Summary

Enter two circular orbit radii and a central body to get the delta-v budget and transfer time for a Hohmann orbital transfer.

How it works

Select a central body (Earth, Mars, Sun, etc.) or enter a custom gravitational parameter (µ).
Enter the radius of the initial circular orbit (r1) in kilometers.
Enter the radius of the target circular orbit (r2) in kilometers.
The calculator applies the vis-viva equation to find orbital velocities at each orbit and at both ends of the transfer ellipse.
Delta-v for each burn and total delta-v are displayed, along with transfer orbit semi-major axis and travel time (half the ellipse period).

Use cases

Plan a spacecraft maneuver from low Earth orbit (LEO) to geostationary orbit (GEO).
Estimate fuel requirements for an interplanetary trajectory.
Teach or study orbital mechanics in a classroom or self-study context.
Verify hand-calculated Hohmann transfer results quickly.
Compare the cost of direct transfer vs. multi-burn strategies.
Model satellite repositioning within the same orbital shell.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-11 · Reviewed by Nham Vu